Container with improved reclosable cover member

Abstract

A container (10) for consumer goods comprising: an outer housing (12) comprising a box (14) and a lid (16), the lid (16) being hinged to the box (14) along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the outer housing (12); and a package (18) of consumer goods within the box (14). A reclosable sealing cover member(100) occludes an access opening (20) in the package. The reclosable sealing cover member (100) comprises: a base layer (102) comprising a fibrous cellulosic material; a metal-containing layer (104) provided on an outer side of the base layer (102); and a first polymeric layer (106) provided on an inner side of the base layer (102).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A container for consumer goods comprising:
 an outer housing comprising a box and a lid, the lid being hinged to the box along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the outer housing; 
 a package of consumer goods within the box, the package formed from a sheet blank folded around the consumer goods and having an access opening through which consumer goods can be removed; and 
 a reclosable sealing cover member adapted to occlude the access opening, the reclosable sealing cover member being separate and distinct from the sheet blank from which the package is formed, 
 wherein an underside of the reclosable sealing cover member is provided with an adhesive arrangement to at least partially affix at least part of the reclosable sealing cover member to an outer surface of the package such that the cover member is movable from a closed position, 
 wherein the reclosable sealing cover member overlies at least the access opening, and an open position, 
 wherein the reclosable sealing cover member is at least partially lifted away from the outer surface of the package; and 
 wherein the reclosable cover member is permanently affixed to an inner surface of the lid, such that upon opening the lid the reclosable cover member is moved from the closed position towards the open position to at least partly reveal the access opening; 
 wherein the reclosable sealing cover member comprises: 
 a base layer comprising a fibrous cellulosic material; 
 a metal-containing layer provided on an outer side of the base layer; and 
 a first polymeric layer provided on an inner side of the base layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the reclosable sealing cover member further comprises a second polymeric layer provided between the metal-containing layer and the base layer. 
     
     
       3. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing layer comprises a metallic ink. 
     
     
       4. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing layer extends over only a first portion of the reclosable sealing cover member. 
     
     
       5. The container of  claim 4 , wherein a second portion of the reclosable sealing cover member is permanently affixed to an inner surface of the lid, and wherein the second portion of the reclosable sealing cover member does not overlap with the first portion. 
     
     
       6. The container of  claim 5 , wherein a first primer layer is provided on the outer side of the base layer and extends over only the second portion of the reclosable sealing cover member. 
     
     
       7. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the underside of the reclosable sealing cover member comprises an adhesive free area. 
     
     
       8. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the reclosable sealing cover member further comprises a varnish layer provided on an outer side of the metal-containing layer. 
     
     
       9. The container of  claim 1 , wherein a basis weight of the base layer is at least about 20 grams per square metre. 
     
     
       10. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer comprises at least 30 percent by weight of the fibrous cellulosic material. 
     
     
       11. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the reclosable sealing cover member extends beyond the periphery of the access opening; and is at least partly permanently affixed to the package by a permanent adhesive provided on a back hinge area of the inner surface of the reclosable sealing cover member, and at least partly releasably affixed to the package by a resealable adhesive provided on a second area of the inner surface of the reclosable sealing cover member extending at least about a front edge of the access opening. 
     
     
       12. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the reclosable sealing cover member comprises a top part and a bottom part; the bottom part being affixed to the package by a permanent adhesive provided on a first area of the inner surface of the bottom part extending about the periphery of the access opening, the bottom part comprising a cut-out portion at least partly aligned with the access opening of the package; the top part being at least partly permanently affixed to the bottom part by a permanent adhesive provided on a back hinge area of the inner surface of the top part, and at least partly releasably affixed to the bottom part by a second adhesive provided on a peeling area of the inner surface of the top layer extending distal from the hinge area, such that the top part is movable from a closed position, wherein the top part overlies at least the access opening, and an open position, wherein the top part is lifted off the bottom part to reveal the cut-out portion. 
     
     
       13. The container of  claim 12 , wherein the top part comprises the base layer, the metal-containing layer, and the first polymeric layer, and the bottom part comprises at least one further layer of material. 
     
     
       14. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the package is formed from a sheet blank, which when folded forms a sealed enclosure for containing the consumer goods. 
     
     
       15. The container of  claim 14 , wherein the package is formed by folding the blank such that ends of the blank are brought together so as to overlie to form a wrapping about a group of consumer goods; wherein the seal area extends at least partly over the overlying ends of the blank and the overlying ends of the blank are sealed together.